how do i even start to get us a house?

[OUadpiGIRL]

I just became property manager of my chapter and one of the main reasons why i wanted this position was because i wanted to be on the house committee (we dont have a house -yet). I'm very excited about this and i really want to be the one who makes all our ideas actually happen. What are the 1st steps involved in achieveing that? What are the small things that i need to do to start the process of getting my chapter a house? Thanks a ton!!!

[James]

Oh wow . . . how much money in your house corporation?

[honeychile]

LOL - I was going to say Step One: Hit the Lottery!

OUadpiGirl - find out who is in charge of your housing corporation. If there isn't one, contact HQ and ask them for advice in getting one started. That's the very first step, since it all comes back to money.

[Kevin]

Different HQ's have different resources available to you. Yes, you need a house corporation ASAP. Second, you need to assess your organization's needs. If you only want to house a few people, possibly you could rent something close to campus.

Many HQ's have the funds to loan chapters money for houses. At the least they'll probably have a plan to get you in a house soon.

[ThetaPrincess24]

You would also need permission from the College/University that the chapter is at assuming you want to keep the house on campus.

My campus has no greek housing as far as houses go, we have designated floors in the dorms. Supposedly those chapters that are first to come up with the $40,000 deposit will be first to get real housing, and ground will not break for such housing till that has happened, or so I keep being told(far from happening anytime soon).

Money,alumni support in the area, university cooperation, and potentially help from HQ are going to be HUGE factors.

Good luck to you

[WCUgirl]

A word of advice -

I don't know how old your chapter is, so this may not even apply if you don't have many alumnae.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE make sure you have STRONG alumnae relations NOW! Even if you are just going to be taking the first steps in getting that house - start getting your chapter in the habit of involving alumnae in everything. Alumnae HATE being invited to something out of the blue only to find out they're being asked for money. The better you make your alumnae feel and the more involved you try to make them every step of the way, the easier it will be to get alumnae support on this.

That's just my $0.02.

[mattpike]

it usually takes a while. my old chapter is still in the process. its been about 3 years now. with us its a lot of paperwork, alumni support, national approval, and most of all money. it takes a lot to get a loan approval you have to show steady income to pay back the debt. but your nationals should take care of you and help you out.

[BSUPhiSig'92]

It also depends on whether Greek housing is even possible. Do other chapters on your campus have housing? If so, is it on campus or off? Some communities have made zoning restrictions so tight that it is impossible for a chapter to have a house in town. Find that out right away. Is your University agreeable to Greek housing on campus? If not, then your choices are off campus or to await a change in the administration. No matter what, you will need a housing corporation that is incorporated as an entity under the laws of the state of Michigan. You will need alumni to serve on the board, and you will at some point need a lawyer.